Odebolt - St. Martin

ODEBOLT - St. Martin's Parish was founded in 1877, the same year that the Chicago and Northwestern Railway built their railroad into town. Prior to that, there were church services held in various homes by Father William Pape of Carroll.

In 1877, Father Thomas Norton of Breda recommended that a church be built at Odebolt. A 36-foot by 50-foot building was erected in 1878 on a lot donated by Hiram C. Wheeler. The total cost was $1,300. This was the first church to be erected in town. Father Norton came to the new church once a month.

In 1882, Father Ullrigh Frey was assigned resident pastor at St. Martin's. Father Frey undertook building a new parsonage, at a cost of $1,500. Father Frey also had to look after the towns of Lake View and Grant City.

Father John Perschong (1883-1892), Father John Anler (1892-1895), Father Fred Huesmann (1895-1902) and Father Gustave Weinhold (1902-1912) all served St. Martin's.

A school building was converted from a store in 1883. The school building was deemed inadequate in 1888, and a new three-story building was erected. A convent for the Sisters of St. Francis was included. There were about 50 students at this time. The building was eventually replaced in 1915 by a brick building, which housed 85 pupils.

A new church building was constructed in 1900 at a cost of $12,000. The structure had a steeple and was 44-feet by 90-feet. Father L. Schenkelberg (1912-1916) and Father A. G. Schaeffer (1916-1951) both served their pastorate at Odebolt.

Father L. J. Gretemann (1951-1955) succeeded Father Schaeffer. Father Gretemann oversaw the building of a new rectory, which was a two-story brick building. The total cost was $28,000, including furnishings. Many repairs to the school and parking lot were completed during Father Gretemann's pastorate.

During this time, Mabel Schoeberl organized the church choir, children's choir and a grade-school band. The following year she received the diocesan award for youth leadership.

Father Robert Joynt (1955-1959), Father Charles Ernst (1959-1961) and Father Linus Eisenbacher (1961-1975) all worked at St. Martin's.

In 1965, the Sisters of St. Francis were no longer able to provide enough nuns for the staff, so the school hired a lay teacher. In January of 1969, the school closed after 86 years.

Father Victor Kollasch (1975-1981), Father Robert Keefe (1981-1985), Father Richard Birdsell (1985-1991), Father Walter Bruch (1991-1996), Father Robert MacClintock (1996-1997) and Father Al Reicks (1997-present) served their pastorate at Odebolt.

A new church was planned in 1975. It was completed in 1976 for $365,000. The building is a one-story 10,500-square-foot edifice made of brick. There is a church proper, dining room, kitchen and seven catechism classrooms. The parish's centennial celebration was held in the church one year later.

There have been numerous vocations from the parish of St. Martin's, including six Grasser nuns, who were all from one family. There were four men from the parish to become priests and an additional five women who went on to religious vocations. One man from the parish became a brother.

The parish has an active CCD program, with a present enrollment of 76 students in grades K-7. There are an additional 50 students in grades 8-12. At present, there are 500 people affiliated with the parish.